Nature. Mindfulness. Inspiration. Life.

Much to my family's chagrin, I don't ski and have no desire to start. So whenever we head up to Killington, Vermont (which we've been doing regularly for the past three years), there's an awful lot of "encouraging" (some might call it "pestering") that is aimed in my direction.

"But Mom...you would LOVE the views! You would go crazy taking pictures!"

"Mom, don't you miss us all day? It would be a lot more fun if we could all be together on the mountain!"

Truth be told, I do enjoy the days all to myself, exploring neighboring towns with my camera. (It should be noted that "neighboring towns" in Vermont are sometimes an hour's drive away. Luckily, those drives are scenic.) I had good fun going back to Manchester, which has one of my favorite places to spend a whole afternoon, Northshire Bookstore. I also discovered Woodstock during this trip, which is a thoroughly charming town with lots of galleries, antique stores, very old homes, a covered bridge, little boutiques, and (you guessed it) a good bookstore.

It was about five days into the vacation when my husband hatched an "evil genius plan." He bought me a gondola ticket so I could ride up (in street clothes) to the peak lodge at Killington and have lunch with him and the kids at the top of the mountain. They all wanted me to see exactly what I was missing.

At first, the plan seemed to backfire. We were completely fogged in and the "view" out the window was non-existent.

But then...(dramatic pause)...the fog lifted.

And I could finally see what my family had been so excited about. The views were spectacular, no way to deny it.

So, will I try skiing? Okay already--YES! Especially after my husband suggested that he and my daughter would learn to snowboard and my son (who is already a snowboarder) would learn to ski, so we would all be novices together. (Genius, I tell ya!) My family is feverishly planning our next trip to the mountains before I change my mind.

As somebody who has lived in the northeastern United States my whole life (four different states, but still: the same region), I can get a little bit jaded when it comes to snow. This might have something to do with not being a kid anymore and therefore needing to drive occasionally in the aforementioned snow (not fun) and sometimes shovel it (only fun when followed by hot cocoa with mini marshmallows).

It's very easy for jaded adults to forget that snow is one of Mother Nature's greatest and most astonishing magic tricks.

Kids never grow tired of snow, do they? It's always new and fresh and the best surprise ever! Even if hot cocoa were subtracted from the equation, children would still adore it.

One of my favorite children's books, Snow by Cynthia Rylant, captures the pure poetry inherent in every snowfall. Her words give me warm shivers, taking me back to my childhood memories of snowy days in Connecticut. She writes: "Some snow falls only lightly, just enough to make you notice the delicate limbs of trees, the light falling from the lamppost, a sparrow's small feet."

It's true. Snow opens our eyes to the world again. Waking up to a hushed morning and peering out through the curtains to find the world covered in a sparkling white blanket--surely, that's a form of magic, isn't it?

"I would tell the teachers in our religious school, 'I don't want to hear that on the day of the first serious snowfall in winter, you called the children back from the window to return to page forty-three in the textbook. A young child's gasp of delight at the beauty of the snow will be as authentic a prayer, and as religiously grounded a response to the wonder and beauty of God's world, as anything in your lesson plan for that afternoon.' "

I love that. There are life lessons suffused in the snowflakes, lessons about wonder and delight and never losing sight of natural magic.

And then there's this lesson, again from Cynthia Rylant's book: "...the snow, while it is here, reminds us of this: that nothing lasts forever except memories."

Have a magical weekend, dear friends, and I'll see you back here in two weeks!

P.S. I've just finished teaching my newest (and quite possibly my favorite) online course, Soul Focus: Finding Peace Through Photography. I loved every single illuminating day with my students and can't wait to run it again! Make sure you're signed up (below) for my free monthly newsletter, Writing with Light, to get the first notice for all of my e-courses plus the Early Bird Discounts...

I got the best present yesterday. I was buying some bottles of wine for last-minute gifts and the cashier actually asked to see my I.D. (Internal squeal of glee!) I remember (decades ago) being miffed when the cashier asked to see my I.D. My goodness, how times change...!

Thank you so very much for checking in with me this year. I hope the new year ahead brings you and your family XXL measures of peace, warmth, health, happiness, lightness, respect, mindfulness, kindness, and most of all: love.

There's something about getting deluged with over two feet of snow, courtesy of Winter Storm Jonas, that makes a person slow down and become more reflective. That, and losing one of the world's greatest musical visionaries--the person who, long before the dawn of MTV, created an entirely new visual format for music.

I still feel quite low about David Bowie's death; he figured heavily into the soundtrack of my high school and college days. I guess this is how many people felt when Elvis Presley died. Mourning a stranger who seemed so familiar, ever-present, and full of life.

On these chilly-white days, I've been poring through David Bowie's expansive body of work. Three things surprised me:

1) His sound through the decades is still almost shockingly current. I listened to a song that I thought was relatively new and was surprised to find it was from 20 years ago (from the Outside album).

2) He had so many good songs that I'd never even heard before--a bittersweet discovery. Twenty-five albums? I didn't realize he was that prolific!

3) He really grew into his own skin in the 1990's, kicking all drugs and alcohol (even wine), finding love with the exquisite Iman, and finally becoming comfortable with performing as himself. In a few interviews, he spoke of his different theatrical personas (like Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke) as a way of getting over his intense shyness and fear of being on stage. To armor himself, he'd "disappear" into the characters he created. That's why it's especially wonderful to have just discovered his A&E "Live By Request" concert from 2002 in which he's so authentically himself: joyous and free, funny and kind. My favorite part is when a 5-year-old fan calls in to request "Ashes to Ashes" (at the 1:18:13 minute-mark of this concert).

It's a five-way tie for my all-time favorite David Bowie song: "Ashes to Ashes", "Changes", "Heroes" , "The Man Who Sold the World", and "Under Pressure" (with Freddie Mercury, another rock legend, who idolized Bowie). My son loved "Under Pressure" so much that a couple of years ago, he asked his violin teacher if he could learn it. (Note to parents with kids who are just starting violin lessons: Do not try this at home.)

I'm sad, and the world is a little colder now, but my goodness, the soundtrack around here lately is out-of-this-world.

Hello there, and Brrrrrrrr! Those of us in the northeastern U.S. are bracing for the first really big snowstorm of the season this weekend. (While it was somewhat pleasant to have an unseasonably warm December, I still find it a wee bit worrisome that it's late January and we still haven't had any real snowfall. The kids certainly aren't happy about the lack of Snow Days, that's for sure!) Anyway, looking ahead to the white and windy weather, I thought I'd stock you up with some cozy reading material. Even if you won't be snowbound where you are, I think you'll enjoy these finds:

Hello and happiest holiday wishes to you, whatever you choose to celebrate!

In the bustling midst of the season, I find myself repeatedly seeking out breathing room, space to be alone, far from the crowds. (I'm listening to Gregorian chants as I type this--very, very soothing.) I'm not a shopper, so having to pick out thoughtful gifts in hot, crowded stores sets me on edge. Could you use a little break from the holiday hustle, too? If so, here are some lovely little things that made me smile this week. Enjoy...and exhale...

P.S. I got LOTS of questions about my new monthly e-letter, Joyful Scoop, that I mentioned in the previous post. YES, you will need to subscribe to get it, even if you're already subscribed to this Joyfully Green weekly blog. It's a different thing--mainly, it's the way to get exclusive discounts on my photography e-courses, one of which will open for registration VERY soon, so if that interests you, sign up for the Joyful Scoop e-letter by clicking here. (No spam, EVER. I promise. Just e-course discounts, inspirational stuff, and eye candy.)

Even if you're not a U.S. history buff, I'm betting you know about Abraham Lincoln's humble beginnings in a log cabin. So you might be surprised to hear that his son, Robert Todd Lincoln, owned a magnificent 24-room house built on 412 sprawling acres in Manchester, Vermont. It's called Hildene, and I had the pleasure of visiting it last month.

If you've been reading this blog for a while (thank you!), then you already know from my post about Edith Wharton's house that I'm in HEAVEN if I'm allowed to roam around a turn-of-the-century home all by myself, to take pictures at leisure. And just like at Edith Wharton's house, I had free range to roam and snap at the Lincoln house. During the winter months, you can take a self-guided tour of Hildene. There are gracious staff members on the premises to introduce you to the property and answer any questions, but basically, you're on your own. (Just the way I like it!)

Pretty grand, don't you think? It was interesting, though, to read the historical details provided outside of the Sunbeam, telling about how many of the recently freed slaves became hard-working porters at Pullman, serving the wealthy passengers who used Pullman cars for their travel. The porters formed the first all-black union, which was instrumental to the Civil Rights Movement.

The class divide is in evidence inside the mansion, too. The Lincolns employed 15 full-time servants, and the difference between the servants' quarters and the family's living quarters is striking. Not that the servants were living in hardship--far from it! Their quarters were comfortable and quite pleasant, but on a different level entirely from the Lincolns. I felt like I had stepped into the "upstairs/downstairs" world of Downton Abbey! Can't you just picture Anna or Mrs. Hughes wearing the maid's uniform below?

Here's a corner of the grand entry hall...

And here's Mrs. Lincoln's sitting room...

Mrs. Lincoln's bedroom is below...

For contrast, here's a servant's bedroom, below:

First picture below, the Lincoln family dining room. Second picture below, the servants' dining room. (Quite a difference, no?)

I really enjoyed photographing the servants' quarters--the way the rooms were styled was very warm and comfortable. I could clearly picture "life being lived" there. First picture below: A view of the kitchen. Second picture below: The pantry.

An ancestor of the cell phone, below...

The view from the house wasn't too shabby, either! The formal gardens were covered in a blanket of snow, but look at this majestic view of the Green Mountains...

As you can see, the Hildene estate is a far cry from Abraham Lincoln's modest log cabin--and that's a grand understatement!

Thank you kindly to the wonderful staff at Hildene, who were very knowledgeable and accommodating during my visit. I'd be remiss if I didn't note on this green blog that Hildene practices land conservation and sustainability, in addition to their historic preservation. For more information on Hildene, please visit www.hildene.org.

It's a sugar-white world outside my door, icing on every branch. When I've had it up to HERE with the relentless winter weather, I go outside with my camera and point it towards the trees. The winter here is cold and long, but it also just happens to be beautiful.

For those of you who need proof that winter won't last forever, here you go: Golden Summer.

Living in the northeastern United States for all of my life, I've learned to take the four distinct seasons in stride, not expecting too much too soon. So even though March has begun, I remember very well what last March looked like. And if I do forget for a moment, I have pictures like this one above to remind me: The month of March charges in like a lion, roaring all the way!

Last week, my family went skiing in Killington, Vermont--or to be more specific, my husband and daughter went skiing, my son went snow-boarding, and I went off in search of things to do in Vermont as a non-skier who has absolutely ZERO interest in careening down a mountain!

I did, in fact, find lots of non-skiing things to do in the Green Mountain State--towns and landmarks to explore with my camera. Granted, they were all about an hour's drive away from where we were staying in Killington! But I learned that's just how it is in Vermont: towns are sparse and spread out. You can drive for ages and see only a couple of other cars on the road. It was very peaceful, though--lots of time for quiet reflection, plus Bach's Cello Suites (perfect soundtrack for the picturesque landscape).

Here's what else I learned about Vermont during my week up north:

1. NO BILLBOARDS!Vermont banned billboards in 1968. It's so refreshing to drive around a state that's advertising-free and just admire the natural beauty. Mountains and forests, unblemished by splashy slogans and sales pitches.

View from Hildene, Manchester

2. The unofficial colors for houses and barns seem to be white, brick-red, and rustic wood. Occasionally, you might see a yellow house, but any other color is rare. It sort of feels like a private school with uniforms--very neat and buttoned-up!

3. "New England Manners" are in full effect. Staff members at restaurants and hotels are super-friendly, gracious, and helpful, but otherwise, Vermonters pleasantly keep to themselves. If you happen to pass a person on the street, he or she might smile a little, but rarely are "hellos" exchanged. (I'm from Connecticut, so it wasn't that odd for me.)

The Old Tavern, Grafton

4. The winter weather is NOT fooling around! You don't know what "cold" is until you're checking into a hotel in the mountains at night when it's -12 degrees F and a gale wind is hitting you in the face with ice crystals. Toughens you right up!

5. The Northshire Bookstore in Manchester is a must-visit stop! It's now my second favorite bookstore in the whole wide world (right after Strand Books in New York City). Ten thousand square feet of books (some secondhand--very green!), handcrafted gifts, frequent author events, a cafe, artsy parents reading to their precocious children on big, comfy couches... heavenly!

6. Main Streets are mainly deserted. You can walk right down the middle of Main Street in quiet towns like Grafton (pictured below) and hear yourself breathing. Little to no traffic!

7. The Ben & Jerry's Factory in Burlington doesn't make ice cream on holidays or weekends (we were there on President's Day), but you can still take the factory tour and get a free ice cream sample at the end. (We sampled triple caramel chunk--triple YUM!!!)

8. Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, had a very grand summer home in Manchester, called Hildene. (That's an upcoming post--just too many gorgeous photographs of Hildene to squeeze in here!)

9. President Calvin Coolidge's grave (in Plymouth Notch) is in a cemetery across the road from the house where he was born. (How many people, famous or not, can you say that about?)

10. The icicles in Vermont can run from the roof to the ground!

11. You'll see signs in Vermont that you just won't see further south, such as "Moose Crossing" and this one:

12. Sub-zero temperatures don't stop Vermont residents. Snow plow crews seem to be perpetually out on the roads, and Vermonters just bundle up and go on their merry way. I adapted to that mindset during our stay. Although I had no burning desire to go outdoors in -8 degree weather on one of our vacation days, I pushed myself to do it and found three quaint covered bridges in Bennington. (Worth fighting the fear of frostbite!)

Henry Bridge, Bennington

Here are a few more fun things to do in Vermont if you don't ski--all of which I did this past week while my family was on the slopes:

Visit the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. (See where "The Sound of Music" kids ended up in real life, after their time in Austria.)

See Robert Frost's house in Shaftsbury. (It's closed for the winter season, but I still wanted to see where one of my favorite poets lived. He wrote "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" at this house...in the summer!)

Tour the campus of Bennington College. (A mix of colonial and super-slick modern architecture in a rural setting.)

Tags:
Abraham Lincoln's son Robert Todd Lincoln, activities for non-skiers in Vermont, Bach's Cello Suites, Ben & Jerry's factory tour, Bennington covered bridges, Hildene, no billboards in Vermont, Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, poet Robert Frost house in Shaftsbury Vermont, Robert Frost's Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, The Old Tavern in Grafton, The Sound of Music family, Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont banned billboards, Vermont winter landscape photographs, what to do in Vermont if you don't ski, winter activities in Vermont besides skiing, winter things to do in Vermont besides skiing